Alaia Skyhawk: I will admit that I am going to be cutting the dragon out of this ep. To me, Merlin going to see him was rather pointless given that his answer should have been obvious even to our dear favourite warlock. Kilgharrah hates Uther's guts! The only time he agrees to do anything to save him, is if it has to be done to protect Arthur. Silly script writers.

So yeah, I'm going to write my own bit of Merlin thinking it through for himself :)

Oh, and apologies for the delay. Having become truly sick and tired of the hassle of trying to get a literary agent, I've begun the process of self-publishing my first original book using Createspace (Which thanks to a word processor glitch on my end, involved me having to manually fix the paragraph indents of half my chapters before I could export to PDF for the upload). As I write this, my book files are being reviewed for printing compatibility, and with luck I'll order my proof copy to check over within a day or so. If all goes well, giving myself time for last minute fixes, my book could be live and available for purchase within a month! I'll be rebuilding my website to include my e-store, as well as information on my other series in progress, and will be putting that build live when the book becomes available *Is very excited!* :D

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.

Music: N/A

"Whom History Won't Remember" Episode: N/A

~(-)~

Chapter 69: To Kill The King ~Part 3~

Save Uther or let him die? Save him, or let him die? Save, or don't save?

Merlin cursed under his breath, taking his agitation out on the floor he was currently scrubbing. Why this? And why now? Why did everything have to be so complicated?

He threw his cloth across the room, watching it thud into the far wall with a wet splat before realising he'd have to get up and retrieve it. He wanted to save Uther, because he was Arthur's father and because Morgana might not really be thinking about what she was doing. She tended to lose her temper, and this could be just that, it could be something she'd regret later.

However there was a part of him that didn't want to save him. The part that resented Uther's persecution of magic, the part that became angry whenever Uther had someone with magic executed... The part that was quite close to actually hating him for what he'd done to Tom.

Realising he was that close to hating the king, was something frightening. But that fear didn't negate the fact that he still wondered if it wasn't for the best that Uther die. Arthur couldn't fulfil his destiny until he was king, and what if the time for him to become king was now?

He wasn't going to get his answers here, and he knew it, finishing washing the floor of Arthur's chambers before going and getting the prince's dinner. It was after progressing through his own, seated near his mentor the physician's chambers, when one of the questions that could help him passed his lips.

"Do you think Uther is a good king?"

"Sorry?"

Gaius glanced over at him, from the task of putting some kind of small seeds into a tiny jar, and Merlin couldn't help but fidget a little, anxiously.

"Uther... Do you think he's good for the kingdom?"

Gaius gave him a long look, a little puzzled by the question.

"Yes. Yes, I do." He resumed putting seeds into the jar. "Although due to recent events, you may find that hard to believe."

Merlin frowned a bit at that.

"Hard? No. Impossible? Completely."

"Merlin."

"Everyone hates him."

Gaius stopped again, putting down his handful and getting up. He walked over to his ward, his tone a little reproving.

"It is not his job to be liked. It's Uther's job to protect the kingdom. Most of his methods are right, sometimes he may go too far."

Merlin didn't seem to be convinced.

"Really? You mean like executing anyone who even passes a sorcerer on the street?"

The physician was forced to consider his answer to that, moving to sit near his ward.

"Despite Uther's failings, he has brought peace and prosperity to this kingdom."

"But at what cost?" Merlin was frowning now, clearly upset. This a matter very close to his heart. "At the cost of women and children, fathers and sons? When will it end?"

Gaius sighed. He knew how hard it must be, for a young man like Merlin to stay quiet through things like this, unlike he who had been doing it for a long time.

"It will end when Arthur is king."

Merlin bowed his head, almost sullen as well as subdued.

"Then why can't that time be now? Why not let Arthur be king?"

Gaius, ignoring the almost treasonous content of those questions, shook his head.

"Arthur's not ready. The responsibility would be too great. Brave though he may be, he lacks experience, he lacks judgement." The warlock went quiet, turning his head away before Gaius rose to his feet frowning in concern. Merlin was hiding something, and he knew it. "Is there anything you want to tell me?"

"I can't, I just... No, I can't. Y-you've just got to trust me." Merlin made himself look his mentor in the eye, despite inner turmoil trying to keep him looking away. "It's something I just got to work out for myself."

Gaius nodded, gravely.

"I do trust you, Merlin. Whatever it is, I know you'll make the right decision."

~(-)~

"I didn't expect to see you... You wish to say something?"

The king looked up at the door of the council chambers opened, a very subdued young woman walking in. Morgana knew she had to do this, as much as she hated pretending remorse. It was a good thing that Uther's arrogance would make this apparent apology so easy for him to accept.

Morgana walked the length of the table, her voice muted.

"I came to apologise, My Lord."

"Good."

She paused at that, feeling her anger flare at his attitude, a hint of that there on the edge of her following words.

"I didn't mean to rile you." She checked herself, forcing herself to soften her tone as she stepped closer to stop near where he sat. "I thought only of Gwen; poor girl's all alone in the world."

Uther glanced at her, swallowing his mouthful.

"It was not my intention to hurt your maid."

"I know." Morgana lowered her eyes, genuine feeling for Gwen's circumstances slipping through. "But now she suffers, and I know how much she must suffer."

"Morgana."

She interrupted him before he could continue.

"I only meant to say that... I know what it's like to lose a father."

Uther actually paused at that, a hint of past regret showing as he remembered what she spoke of.

"That was a terrible day. Your father was a great friend." Morgana flinched, anger glimmering enough for him to see. "I had no part in his death."

Morgana made herself look at him, voicing thoughts she'd held quiet and in the depths of her heart for a long time. Deep resentment for what had happened.

"...You sent him into battle. You promised him reinforcements, and then gave him none. You sent him to his death."

Her words struck home, the king staring at her.

"That's not true. It was never my intention."

"But it happened, and it keeps on happening."

"Morgana."

His tone was soft, despite the fact she'd been verging on shouting, and she quickly curtseyed and turned away, hurrying from the room as though regretful of her outburst.

"I'm sorry, My Lord."

Behind her the king was rising to his feet, but he did not see the sinister smile on her face as she left. It had felt good to voice that, and good that at the same time it would draw him in.

Sure enough, he approached her later in the day, finding her near the stairs to her chambers. She didn't face him when he called out to her, remaining still as he spoke.

"I'm not disturbing you I hope."

"No, not at all."

She heard him coming towards her, but still remained facing away as he approached.

"These are difficult times. They put a strain on us all." He paused, lowering his head a little. "I can't tell you how much it pains me to be at odds with you."

She had to make herself sound quiet and subdued. This was the chance she'd hoped for.

"And I with you."

He moved past her, stopping beside the nearby window and looking out. His expression was solemn.

"I've been thinking about what you said, and... I realise I may have been insensitive." He turned, facing her. "I should have foreseen the distress that your maid's loss would cause you. That it would stir old memories. I've opened an old wound, and for that I'm sorry."

She kept her eyes averted, mildly touched that he had actually bothered to apologise instead of making up an excuse. It didn't change things though, as she let herself smile slightly and sincerely.

"My Lord, it gladdens me to hear you speak these words. She walked up to him, taking him by his hands and smiling at him. "I too wish to heal these wounds. Let us visit my father's grave, together, and put the past behind us."

He returned her smile.

"Nothing would give me greater happiness."

"Shall we leave tomorrow at first light?"

In the face of her earnest expression, Uther nodded.

"I will make arrangements."

He hastened away to do just that, once again unaware of the cold change in her expression once he was gone. Just as she was unaware that a certain warlock was waiting for her to sneak out when night fell and the city had gone quiet, a warlock who heard her finalising the plan with Tauren.

~(-)~

Merlin stood at the window, looking down into the courtyard below and the group of four riders that were heading out. Morgana and Uther were going to the cairn of the hill, above the fields a few miles to the north-west. He knew it was a trap, and yet stood here doing nothing. He still couldn't decide which way to turn, to save or not to save, and in that dilemma was effectively choosing not to even make the choice.

He was turning a blind eye, and part of him hated himself for it. He felt like a coward.

In the hallway outside Arthur's chambers, a familiar figure started to pass the open door. But instead of continuing, they paused and entered, the woman it was regarding him with concern.

"Merlin?"

He twitched, looking at her when she came to a stop beside him.

"How are you doing?"

"I was about to ask you the same question."

He hesitated, putting on an awkward smile.

"I'm fine... Fine."

He looked back out the window, both of them noting the group riding out, and Gwen sighed.

"Morgana's been amazing these past few days."

Merlin wanted to snort at that, knowing the truth. There was someone here far more worthy of admiration than a noblewoman capable of leading a king to his death.

"I think you've been amazing... After all that's happened. Getting your life back together."

Gwen swallowed, holding back tears that threatened to come.

"It's better than sitting in an empty house, waiting for my father to walk through the door." She started to pace. "The thing I find hardest to bear is that people will always think he was guilty because he tried to escape."

Merlin went to her, earnest.

"I know he was innocent."

Gwen bit her lip.

"I think he tried to escape because he knew that whatever he said or did, that he'd be killed. Uther had already made up his mind, that's the kind of man he is."

Her words made him pause, nodding as he felt his own anger at Uther's callousness rising again.

"...I wouldn't blame you if you wanted him dead."

Gwen spun round, frowning almost in disbelief at the question.

"If Uther died, I would feel nothing. He means nothing to me."

Merlin couldn't help himself, the question as much to himself as to her.

"But if, you know, you had the choice. What would you do?" He was scaring her, he knew it, but he continued as though compelled. "If you had the power of life and death over Uther, would you kill him? For what he did?"

Gwen stared at him, before slowly and emphatically shaking her head.

"No..."

Merlin felt confused, conflicted.

"No?

"What would that solve?" Gwen shook her head again. "That would make me a murderer... It would make me as bad as him."

The confusion vanished, the conflict vanished, those words giving him the answer he needed. Merlin's expression lightened with realisation, realisation that she was right.

"You're right... You're absolutely right." He glanced towards the window, the king now out of sight, and then hurried towards the door. "Of course you're right."

She called out after him, getting only a rushed reply.

"Is everything all right?"

"Yes! I'll see you later!"

Merlin dashed back to his room, reaching first for his spellbook before changing his mind and grabbing his staff from the compartment under his bed. He then had the unenviable task of getting out of the castle and city with it, in broad daylight, and yet urgency and sudden resolve found him managing to do just that.

The delay it caused was the only downside, forcing him into a run as soon as he was in the clear. He was just lucky that the grave of King Uther's ward's father was such a well-known landmark in the city, because by this point the two of them and their escort were nowhere within sight for him to follow.

But that wasn't going to stop him. No. He was not going to allow Tauren and Morgana to kill the king.

He was fighting for breath when he found the group's horses, and found the two guards that had gone as escorts... dead. They didn't have a mark on them, meaning they'd been struck down with magic, but they'd not gone down alone. Two of Tauren's men lay dead with them, and he could see two more climbing the hill heading for the cairn.

Merlin's expression settled into a grim frown, his grip on his staff tightening as he resumed his run to catch up to them. They didn't even notice him, or at least they didn't until one of them was sent flying through the air by a blast of power from the staff. The other turned with a shout, his life ending the same way a moment later, and the young warlock continued his pursuit up the hill to where one last figure could be seen.

Tauren had turned, seeing the deaths of his men, and scowled.

"What are you doing? You... You possess magic, so why do you attack us?"

Merlin stared back, readying his staff.

"Because murdering Uther will only sow the same kind of hate for magic, among his people, that people with magic feel for him because of his murder of our kind. I hate him for what he did to Tom, but that doesn't make me forget that none of that would have happened if not for your actions. Killing solves nothing."

Tauren pointed to the corpses further down the hill.

"You killed my men, and the tell me killing solves nothing?"

"Killing for revenge solves nothing... Killing because you've been left no other choice except to see all that you've sworn to protect, crumble? I'm doing this because you've left me no other way... Oga ceoles!"

At Merlin's shouted spell the magic of the staff blasted towards Tauren, but the man was not as undefended as his men had been. He pulled the Mage Stone quickly from his pouch, catching the blast with it and sending it right back where it had come from.

Merlin was extremely fortunate that he already knew he was immune enough to the staff not to be killed by it... That did not change, however, the fact that he was thrown backwards and knocked out by it. And as he fell into shadows, all he could think was that he prayed he'd done enough for Uther to be able to save himself now.

~(-)~

"Father."

Morgana knelt down beside the cairn, while behind her Uther drove his sword into the ground before approaching and placing his hand on her head.

"Your father was the greatest man I have ever known. He stood for everything this kingdom represents. Truth, justice, valour. A hundred times he saved my life on the battlefield. His courage and his honour were without equal."

The king knelt down beside her, bowing his head and resting it on the edge of the cairn in respect, while she glanced over her shoulder wondering what was taking Tauren so long. Surely two paltry guards couldn't have been that much trouble, and if he too much longer then this chance might be lost entirely. If it was, Uther would never come out of the city this poorly guarded ever again until the sorcerer was caught and executed. She knew that, and Tauren had to know it too.

Uther lifted his head again, regarding the single large upright that complete the top of the cairn. "When Gorlois died, I lost the truest friend I ever had, for his was as fearless in questioning my judgement as he was in defending my kingdom. That's the mark of a true friend."

Morgana too looked at his, a hint of tears in her voice as she thought of her father.

"I know how much he respected you, My Lord, but I do not share these memories... How can I? I was just ten years old. All I know is that I loved him, and that he was taken from me."

Uther turned to her, reaching out to place a hand on her shoulder in comfort.

"When he died, and I took you into my care... you fought me from the beginning. Your will is as strong as my own. You challenge me as a friend must, as your father did in his time."

She flinched, a hint of anger showing.

"And when I do, you clap me in irons."

The king bowed his head at that, nodding.

"I know I am not an easy man. My temper blinds me sometimes... There are things I regret."

"Gwen's father?"

"...Yes."

Her question had been sarcastic, but the answer that came after the following pause was not. She stared at him in shock, confused. He never admitted to being wrong, at least never to her.

"Are you saying you were wrong to have Tom killed?"

He nodded again, solemn.

"Yes." Her hatred of him suddenly wavered, crumbling away in the face of his clear remorse. He actually felt guilty for what he'd done, was admitting it to her. Where was the cold and cruel king now? Where was he in this ageing man who was exposing his heart to her? He reached out again, cupping the side of her face and smiling gently. "I will strive to listen to you more and quarrel with you less. You have been a blessing to me, Morgana. You are the daughter I never had. Your council is invaluable, as is your friendship and your love. Without you I cannot hope to be the king this land deserves."

Her resolve was vanishing, all desire to kill him melting away, being replaced by the fear of losing him.

"M-My Lord."

"Please forgive me, Morgana."

Tauren came up into view behind him, sword raised to strike him down, and she looked to him in horror.

"No, no!"

Her shout was her warning, Uther turning and grabbing the descending arm, wrenching Tauren off his feet and sending them both tumbling towards where his sword stood embedded in the ground. But the sorcerer refused to allow him to get it, pinning him and trying to drive the end of his blade into the king's face.

By the cairn Morgana stood frozen, she could still see Uther killed for what he'd done... But did she really want that anymore?

Knowing the answer she reached inside her cloak, drawing the slender dagger she carried while out on rides and advancing on the both of them. The next moment saw Tauren stiffen and choke, Uther able to then push him aside and see his ward stood over them both with a bloodied dagger. She'd stabbed Tauren in the back... killed him.

Further down the kill, Merlin was coming rather quicker than the last time he'd been hit by it, thanks to it being his own power the staff had been using. He shakily scrambled to his feet, hurrying to the top of the slope to see something he'd not expected.

Morgana and Uther standing over the body of Tauren, tears in her eyes as she willingly allowed him to pull her close and comfort her. She clung to him, sobbing into his shoulder, and seeing that Merlin knew she'd realised killing him wasn't what she'd really wanted. She'd realised that before it had been too late.

The warlock smiled to himself and sighed, about to turn away when he saw a glint of amber stone from the pouch on Tauren's belt. And directing a quick glance at the king and his ward, confirming they were distracted, he pointed to it and whispered.

"Cume her."

The pouch came free of the belt, rolling down the hill towards him until it was close enough for him to grab. The Mage Stone safe and in his possession, he then beat a hasty retreat. He doubted the king would take any particularly close look at the two of Tauren's men he'd killed, not with the other two clearly killed by the guards. So long as he left now, no one would be the wiser.

It was even more of a pain getting back in to the city with the staff than it had been getting out. In the end it was Uther and Morgana's return that gave him the distraction he'd needed, even if he had been forced to stash the staff in Bitan's stall in the stables, with an order to the creature kick anyone who tried to go near where it was. He'd collect it later, after the Great Bell.

Gaius was waiting for him when he finally made it back to the physician's chambers, the old man smiling when he came in.

"Busy day?"

Merlin raised his eyebrows a little to himself, heading for his room. He needed get some of his bruise ointment from in there to put on the beautiful mark he knew was forming on his chest, from having his own spell rebounded on him.

"It had its moments."

Gaius was giving him a knowing regard.

"They say Tauren tried to assassinate Uther."

Merlin didn't stop.

"That's what I hear."

"And then Morgana saved him." Merlin did stop at this point, glancing back as his mentor continued. "How many men were there? Three? Four?"

Merlin shrugged.

"Something like that."

"Morgana must have shown extraordinary courage to have defended the king against such odds... And I suppose you had nothing to do with it?"

The young warlock sighed a little in self-depreciation.

"Oh, you know... Background stuff."

He resumed heading for his room, Gaius speaking as he did.

"No need to be so modest, Merlin."

"Sorry."

Gaius shook his head a little in amusement.

"Merlin, it's not a criticism, it was a compliment."

The two of them started to smile at each other, Merlin laughing a little.

"Thanks, Gaius." He turned back to his room. "And now I need to do the background stuff of sorting out the consequences of my background stuff. I've still got the rest of my chores to do." He turned, pulling the stone out of the pouch and showing it to Gaius. "And I need to find somewhere safe to put this."

Gaius stiffened at the sight of it, but didn't ask how Merlin had come by it. Merlin wasn't the type to leave powerful magical artefacts sitting around where anyone might pick them up. His Sidhe staff was proof of that.

Watching his ward go into his room, the physician sighed and went to his store of books. Now would be as good a time as any to look for any place close to the city where the Mage Stone could be hidden away and would do no more harm.

~(-)~

Alaia Skyhawk: Hehe, there was a small continuity error in this ep. Tauren had four men when Morgana went to the woods, but only two at the end. I added the missing two as bodies lol. And yep, Merlin took the stone, and will hide it himself. After the way it kept waking him up, if I were him I wouldn't want it sitting in the vaults under the castle either. He'll want it well out of the way hehehehe XD